Game system, game processing method, information processing apparatus, and storage medium having stored therein information processing program

A game processing method executable in a game system including a plurality of terminal apparatuses configured to be operated by a plurality of players, and connect to a network, the method comprising, in connection with the game system:

• creating a virtual lobby that allows up to a predetermined number of players to participate therein in response to a first request from one of the terminal apparatuses;
• in response to a second request from another one of the terminal apparatuses designating as being virtually present in the lobby a player operating the another one of the terminal apparatuses that sent the second request;
• determining a game type, from a plurality of possible game types requiring different numbers of participant players, based on (a) the number of players who are present in the lobby and are not playing a multiplayer game and are ready to play, as well as (b) player states and/or game states related to games being played by the players;
• automatically selecting the game type based on the determination;
• automatically selecting participant players for the selected game type from the players ready to play;
• and
• performing a game process for the selected game type according to an operation performed by the selected participant players,
• wherein the terminals apparatuses are operable to provide single player games to the respective players when the respective players are designated as being virtually present in the lobby.

An information processing apparatus configured to be operated by at least one player, and communicate with an information processing apparatus of another player, the apparatus comprising:

• a computer system including at least one computer processor, wherein the computer system is configured to:
• cause a virtual lobby that allows up to a predetermined number of players to participate therein to be created in response to a first request from the information processing apparatus;
• determine a game type, from a plurality of possible game types requiring different numbers of participant players, based on (a) the number of players who are present in the lobby and are not playing a multiplayer game and are ready to play, as well as (b) player states and/or game states related to games being played by the players;
• automatically select the game type based on the determination;
• automatically select participant players for the selected game type from the players ready to play;
• and
• perform a game process for the selected game type according to an operation performed by the selected participant players,
• wherein the apparatuses are operable to provide single player games to the respective players when the respective players are designated as being virtually present in the lobby.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an information processing program executable by a computer system in an information processing apparatus that is configured to be operated by at least one player, and communicate with an information processing apparatus of another player, the information processing program, when executed, causing the computer system to perform functionality comprising:

• causing a virtual lobby that allows up to a predetermined number of players to participate therein to be created in response to a first request from the information processing apparatus;
• determining a game type, from a plurality of possible game types requiring different numbers of participant players, based on (a) the number of players who are present in the lobby and are not playing a multiplayer game and are ready to play, as well as (b) player states and/or game states related to games being played by the players;
• automatically selecting the game type based on the determination;
• automatically selecting participant players for the selected game type from the players ready to play;
• and
• performing a game process for the selected game type according to an operation performed by the selected participant players,
• wherein the apparatuses are operable to provide single player games to the respective players when the respective players are designated as being virtually present in the lobby.